1st Day: Padum (3.550 m) to Karsha (3.600 m), 4 hours
Padum is situated in the beautiful central Zanskar plain surrounded by stunning mountains.
From Padum you head towards the Doda river. It is a simple walk. In the village Karsha 3.600 m (11.811 ft) is the largest monastery of Zanskar with about 140 resident monks. The beautiful monastery gives you a good few to the Great Himalaya range. There is also a nunnery on the hill to the west of the main monastery.


2nd Day: Karsha (3.600 m) to Pishu (3.450 m), 5 hours
The easy stretch on the bank of the river Zanskar leads you to the village Rinam. There is a small stream and shelter formed by rocks. Before you reach the village Pishu make a little detour to see the longest hanging bridge over the river Zanskar. It leads to Zanghla. You will camp on an attractive campsite below the village of Pishu 3.450 m (11.318 ft).


3rd Day: Pishu (3.450 m) to Hanumil (3.480 m), 5 hours
Continue on the left bank of the river. It is an easy going over gently undulating land, sometimes along the river sometimes across the moraine plateau. If you cross the bridge before the village Pidmo then you reach the village Hanumil 3.480 m (11.410 ft) after 2 hours. There is a very good campsite 100 metres past the 2 houses which make up this pretty settlement.


4th Day: Hanumil (3.480 m) to Snertse (3.770 m) via Parfi-La (3.900 m), 6 hours
This is the first hard day because you have to climb the first pass. From Hanumil you continue on a good and easy path for 4 hours. Take a supply of water from the small stream because the path leads away from the edge of the river Zanskar. The river cuts an impressive path east and the north through the mountains. For 2 month in winter the river becomes the improbable “Chadur” trade route to Nimu, when temperatures dip so low that the Zanskaris can ventureon foot along its frozen surface.
You go up to the plateau and then to the foot of the pass. It is a steep and difficult climb on a sandy slope as far as the Parfi-La 3.900 m (12.790 ft). This is the first of 8 passes you cross on your way to Lamayuru in the next 6 days. Rather steep descend until reaching the river Oma-chu. You cross the bridge and go up a 500 metres sandy slope. Enjoy the wonderful lookout. The slope leads you to the village Snertse 3.770 m (12.370 ft).


5th Day : Snertse (3.779 m) to Lingshed (3.900 m) via Hanuma-La (4.700 m), 7 hours
The long gradual ascent leads towards the second pass Hanuma-La. After 2 hours you pass a sheep fold. It takes you further 2 hours to reach the summit of the Hanuma-La 4.700 m (15.410 ft). The descent is for 1 km a steep zigzag trail. After that you claim for 300 m along the mountain side. From this small pass it is an easy descent towards Lingshed. The campsite is near the monastery of the village Lingshed 3.900 m (12.790 ft).


6th Day : Lingshed (3.900 m) to the foot of Sengi-La (4.900 m) via Murgum-La (4.370 m) and via Kiupa-La (4.430 m), 6 hours
This is the first of two days you have to climb 2 passes in one day. The day starts with an easy claim of 4 hours up to the first pass. If you reach the first pass of the day Murgum-La 4.370 m (14.330 ft) you will have a wonderful view of the valley of Nierag, on the other bank of the Zanskar. The gentle descent toward the villages Gongma 4.000 m and Skiumpata 4.060 m. Start the very steep climb gradually along the mountain side up to the summit of the Kiupa-la 4.430 m (14.530 ft). Continue to the foot of the next pass Sengi-La 4.430 m (14.534 ft).


7th Day : The foot of Sengi-La (4.430 m) to Photokasar (4.130 m) via Sengi-La (4.900 m) and via Bumiktse-La (4.200 m), 7 hours
The rather steep claim to the highest pass of the trek takes you 2 hours. The views from the summit of Sengi-La 4.900 m (16.070 ft) are spectacular. Then a short slope leads into a broad valley. It is an easy going then gentle climb towards the second pass Bumiktse-La 4.200 m (14.430 ft). The descent leads you to the pretty village Photoksar 4.130 m (13.550 ft). It is a splendid village at the bass of the hung mountain walls. There is abandoned monastery 20 minutes above the village.


8th Day : Photokasar (4.130 m) to Hanupatta (3.830 m) via Sirsir-La (4.800 m), 6 hours
From the village it is a gentle claim up to a large chorten. The ascent to the pass is long. The last third of the pass is steep. From the Sirsir-La 4.800 m (15.740 ft) you can look back to the Sengi-La. It is an easy descent to the river. Cross the river and follow the long descent in to a stony valley. There is a good campsite a short distance before the village of Hanupatta 3.830 m (12.560 ft).


9th Day : Hanupatta (3.830 m) to Wanla (3.200 m), 5 hours
From the attractive village Hanupatta continue across the slope until entering the gorges. The george is spectacular and makes interesting walking. There are several caves. At the junction of the river there are a chorten and religious banners on a flat pass a ridge across the river Yapola. Pass some easy and some difficult stretches until you reach the village Phanjila after 3 hours. The next village you pass is Wanla 3.200 m (10.500 ft). Wanla is a pretty village with a gompa high up on crag and makes a pleasant place to stop.


10th Day : Wanla (3.200 m) to Lamayuru (3.450 m) via Prinkiti-La (3.720 m), 3 hours
If you go up the Shillakong Valley along the right bank and cross it than you arrive in the village Shilla. Pass the village, go to broad chorten then follow a narrow and dry gorge as far as the pass Prinkiti-La 3.720 m (12.140 ft). From the summit you look over the complicated terrain of the Zanskar Mountains. It is an easy descent. Cross the river and go towards the monastery in Lamayuru which is the most photographed in Ladakh.
It takes you 5 hours by jeep back to Leh.